Cowards.

[kentuck]

Last edited Tue Aug 6, 2013, 10:52 PM - Edit history (1)

Cowardly men of inaction and status quo. I fear for the direction our country is going.

Most Americans that are polled believe our country is on the wrong track. I agree with them.

More taxcuts for corporations and more trade treaties are not the way to fix our problems. Making deals with the devil gets you no closer to heaven.

If we do not find someone with the courage to lead this country and soon, we are due for a very rude awakening.

We need leaders that will challenge the theft of our national wealth. We need to stop the massive transfer of wealth from the bottom to the top. There is no middle ground when the other side wants you dead. There is no room for compromise when the other side wants to destroy our government which we built up over several generations.

This is not the time for spineless leaders who would swap their souls for a deal with the extremists. This is not the time for soft words whispered from inside a bubble. We are in a crisis of government and it is time for someone to lead. Someone. Anyone.

[Scuba]

1. I know just the woman.

[Flatulo]

32. Damn straight. Proud to call her my Senator.

She has balls of brass.

[Chaco Dundee]

46. tell me about her.

I'll back her up no matter what.

[PowerToThePeople]

2. There is no middle ground when the other side wants you dead

[giftedgirl77]

3. I'll do it.

I was going to run for coroner but then I saw the piece on The Daily Show about ppl not wanting to run for congress. I have no problem putting idiots in their place.

[SalviaBlue]

12. You go girl!

and Welcome to DU

[giftedgirl77]

18. Appreciate it

[Dwayne Hicks]

4. K&R

[ProSense]

5. A lot of people have no idea what's going on

Today the President made a proposal regarding Fannie and Freddie (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023418130), and people have no idea these are private entities.

Fannie, Freddie execs score $100 million payday
http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/15/news/companies/fannie_freddie_executive_pay/

Here is the current CEO:

Timothy J. Mayopoulos is Fannie Mae's president and chief executive officer (CEO), and a member of the company's Board of Directors.

As President and CEO, Mr. Mayopoulos is focused on ensuring that the company continues to manage its legacy issues effectively, while driving the company’s contributions to creating a better housing finance system for the future. Under his leadership, Fannie Mae will continue to play an essential role in funding the market, assisting troubled homeowners, strengthening communities, and repaying taxpayers’ investment in the company.

Mr. Mayopoulos brings more than 25 years of experience to his leadership post. He joined Fannie Mae in April 2009 as executive vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary and was appointed chief administrative officer in 2010. Prior to joining Fannie Mae, Mr. Mayopoulos was executive vice president and general counsel of Bank of America Corporation. Previously, he served in senior management roles at Deutsche Bank AG, Credit Suisse First Boston, and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Inc. Earlier in his career, Mr. Mayopoulos was in private practice. He is a graduate of Cornell University and the New York University School of Law.

http://www.fanniemae.com/portal/about-us/company-overview/leadership/mayopoulos.html#

FACT SHEET: A Better Bargain for the Middle Class: Housing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023418130

[kentuck]

7. I'm not sure anyone understands your post.

Fannie and Freddie wanted to make money off mortgages just like the big banks. Except they knew they were protected and guaranteed by the taxpayers. They bought up the bad mortgages of the big banks. That is where their debt came from. It was a win-win for the banks and a lose-lose for the taxpayers. This does absolutely nothing if the big banks are still protected by the taxpayers. Nothing has changed. It is a scam.

[ProSense]

9. I think

I'm not sure anyone understands your post.

Fannie and Freddie wanted to make money off mortgages just like the big banks. Except they knew they were protected and guaranteed by the taxpayers. They bought up the bad mortgages of the big banks. That is where their debt came from. It was a win-win for the banks and a lose-lose for the taxpayers. This does absolutely nothing if the big banks are still protected by the taxpayers. Nothing has changed. It is a scam.

...people can understand it. Your explanation of it ignores that the point is to end the bailouts of two private entities and to return the function of government-insured mortgages to a public agency. That was the original intent of Fannie before it was privatized in 1968.

[kentuck]

14. But what was the reason that they were bailed out?

And why did they change their role to compete with the Big Banks. And why did they buy all those bad mortgages from those same banks?

[Bunnahabhain]

11. Two Words

Moral hazard.

When will people internalize this?

[Mnpaul]

23. They bought those crappy derivatives

that were rated AAA. That is why UBS recently agreed to pay them 885 million for the fraudulent crap they sold them. They, like everyone else, fell for that "sure thing" from Wall St.

[JaneyVee]

6. The reason we don't have leaders is that we're all looking for leaders.

[Fumesucker]

8. What exactly is a leader?

Not trying to be snide, I think it's important to understand the terms we try to communicate with and I'm not entirely sure myself exactly what I think a leader is.

There's the old joke about leader is the person who figures out where everyone is going first and runs up to the front and hollers "Follow Me!". I suppose there's some accuracy to that but not the entire story.

[awoke_in_2003]

10. We don't have leaders...

because they tend to get shot.

[drmeow]

22. The good one's certainly do

There are lots of leaders who have lead us in the wrong direction - they don't seem to die young (much to my disappointment). The minute one tries to lead us in the right direction, s/he gets shot or somehow dies in some conveniently mysterious way.

[Bunnahabhain]

13. We do not have leaders

because so few people are worth leading these days.

[randome]

42. Or, as I like to put it...

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Civilization2]

15. When the will of the people is so clearly NOT the action of the govt, democracy it is not.

Leadership will not come through such a broken system as what is currently in place. Look outside of government for leadership as the system as it now is, is totally controled by corporate-military banksters,. .

[Octafish]

16. When $16 Trillion poured into the banks and no one asked "Where'd the money go that was there?''...

...I knew we had a problem. When the tee vee started blaming the poor schmoes who got screwed with variable interest mortgages, it was obvious. Now that years have passed, they'll trot out the statute of limitations or get some retroactive immunity get forgiven before trial or jail cards making everything legal.

Leadership? The traitors were in on it. Seeing how there wasn't even an investigation makes it easy to understand how the little turd from Crawford could lie America into wars for profit and get away.

Great post, kentuck. Great thread, too.

[glinda]

17. We need massive arrests and a solid Progressive Majority.

[Little Star]

28. +1

[MissDeeds]

30. I agree completely

[zeemike]

19. K&R....Yes we do.

[Dustlawyer]

20. I will keep posting this, you don't get REAL LEADERS in our SYSTEM!

Our system allows for unlimited money pouring in b/c their advantage before was dwindling with their voting base. They control who makes it that far. They have made state and local races their Farm Clubs. By the time you make the national stage you are in their pocket.
We must DEMAND and FIGHT for publicly funded elections! Complete Campaign Finance Reform is the only thing to fix the ROOT cause which is the corruption of our politicians. They must constantly fundraise with the same big fish. Over time pressure is exerted (most of it legal), they accede to their big donor's demands, even if it is against their constituent's best interest. I am tired of this crap and voting for the lessor of two evils!
Campaign finance reform is the way to go!

[Volaris]

24. What you said.

Except, Campaign Finance Reform leaves a lot of room for the writing of a lot loopholes into into the system by the lobbyists of the Idle and Idiot Rich.
If we call it what we REALLY WANT (Publically Funded Federal Elections), they will have a harder time doing that I think.

The war we need to be fighting ISN'T against our fellow (conservatives) Citizens who are getting just as Fucked Over by the current system as we are, it needs to be against the people doing the Fucking. If we narrow the fight to The Corporate State and it's undue, unConstitutional, and UNNECESSARY influence over the people we vote for, I think a LOT of everyday Republicans will back that play. They might not like the idea of a National Credit Union, but I would bet they will like it a hell of a lot MORE than bailing out Goldman-Sachs again heehee.

Swinging the Hammer isn't hard. You just have to know what to hit with it.

Liz Warren, for Pretty Much Anything She Wants To Do With Her Life.

[Dustlawyer]

27. Ditto!

[farmbo]

37. Sad but true...

Without campaign finance reform, little else matters.

[blkmusclmachine]

21. .

.

[crim son]

25. It really is as simple as you say.

Unfortunately that kind of courage is hard to come by.

[defacto7]

26. K&R

[TBF]

29. I agree - privatizing everything is not the answer

we've seen folks from both parties rush to privatize schools, housing, social security, health care.

That is the problem. The private sector - banks, insurance companies etc... are for-profit entities with one goal - to make money. If we are going to have a shot at keeping this country from falling into third-world status we need to realize that at worst a mixed economy is necessary. An even better choice is to get rid of the capitalism entirely.

I like Hillary Clinton and everything she has done for civil rights. She has been an important voice in that area and I'd give anything to see her on the Supreme Court - preferably as chief justice. I'm not entirely convinced she's the best leader for our country though as much as I'd like to see a woman in the role.

[denverbill]

31. We definitely don't need more Job Killing Trade Agreements.

And if corporations were paying the same portion of federal taxes they paid in 1990, we'd have a budget surplus, not a deficit.

[uponit7771]

33. **********GET A PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS!!!*********

The ones who are cowards are the ones who keep complaining about head leaders instead of getting out and getting a prorgressive congress

[bvar22]

34. ****THE WHITE HOUSE BLOCKS ELECTIONS OF PROGRESSIVES TO CONGRESS!!!******

We did JUST what you suggested in the Arkansas Democratic Primary of 2010.
The Arkansas Democratic Primary was a heart breaking eye opener for the Grass Roots and Organized LABOR. We were given a Look Behind the Curtain,
and it wasn't very pretty.

[font size=3]We did EVERYTHING right in Arkansas in 2010.
We did EXACTLY what the White House asked us to do to "give the President Progressives in Congress that would work with him."[/font]

We organized and supported Lt Governor Bill Halter, the Pro-LABOR/ Pro-Health Care challenger to DINO Obstructionist Blanche Lincoln.
Halter was:

* Polling BETTER against the Republicans in the General,

*was popular in Arkansas in his OWN right,

*had an Up & Running Political machine,

* had a track record of winning elections (Lt. Governor)

*Had the full backing of Organized LABOR and The Grass Roots activists

*was handing Blanche her Anti-LABOR ass in The Primary until the White House stepped in

*Blanche had NO chance of winning the General in Arkansas

Guess what happened.



Our BIGGEST enemy to bringing Progressive "change" to The Senate was NOT The "Obstructionist" Republicans.
NO!
Our BIGGEST enemy to bringing Progressive "change" to The Senate was The Obama White House!

The White House stepped in at the last minute to save DINO Blanche's failing primary campaign with an Oval Office Endorsement of The Witch that Wrecked the Obama Agenda,
and Bill Clinton was dispatched on a Campaign Tour for Blanche around the state bashing Organized LABOR and "Liberals" at every opportunity.


White House steps in to rescue Lincoln's Primary Campaign in Arkansas

"So what did the Democratic Party establishment do when a Senator who allegedly impedes their agenda faced a primary challenger who would be more supportive of that agenda? They engaged in full-scale efforts to support Blanche Lincoln.

* Bill Clinton traveled to Arkansas to urge loyal Democrats to vote for her, bashing liberal groups for good measure.

*Obama recorded an ad for Lincoln which, among other things, were used to tell African-American primary voters that they should vote for her because she works for their interests.

*The entire Party infrastructure lent its support and resources to Lincoln — a Senator who supposedly prevents Democrats from doing all sorts of Wonderful, Progressive Things which they so wish they could do but just don’t have the votes for.

<snip>

What happened in this race also gives the lie to the insufferable excuse we’ve been hearing for the last 18 months from countless Obama defenders: namely, if the Senate doesn’t have 60 votes to pass good legislation, it’s not Obama’s fault because he has no leverage over these conservative Senators. It was always obvious what an absurd joke that claim was; the very idea of The Impotent, Helpless President, presiding over a vast government and party apparatus, was laughable. But now, in light of Arkansas, nobody should ever be willing to utter that again with a straight face.

Back when Lincoln was threatening to filibuster health care if it included a public option, the White House could obviously have said to her: if you don’t support a public option, not only will we not support your re-election bid, but we’ll support a primary challenger against you. Obama’s support for Lincoln did not merely help; it was arguably decisive, as The Washington Post documented today:"

<much more>

http://www.salon.com/2010/06/10/lincoln_6/

When the supporters of Pro-LABOR Lt Gov Bill Halter asked the White House WHY they threw their support behind Lincoln at the last minute, rescuing her failing campaign, the answer was ridicule and insults to Organized LABOR and the Grass Roots.

Ed Schultz sums up my feeling perfectly in the following clip.
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/ed-schultz-if-it-wasnt-labor-barack-obama-
Remember, DINO Lincoln had NO CHANCE of winning against the Republican.
Challenger Bill Halter had a chance, but a small one.
Many Hard Core Democratic Party supporters walked away from this Democratic Primary concluding that the LAST THING this White House wants is more Progressives in Congress, and, judging from their actions,
would prefer that THAT Senate Seat go to a Big Business Republican
than to a real Pro-LABOR Democrat.

It is hard to argue with that conclusion based on what we saw in Arkansas.
He doesn't treat the Progressives he already has very well.
The Progressive Caucus is the LARGEST Democratic Party Caucus,
and yet President Obama:

*appointed NONE to his cabinet,

*appointed NONE to positions of POWER in the Executive Branch

*refused to have them seated for the Discussion and Debate on Health Care Reform. (supporters of expanding Medicare WERE Locked Out)

*appointed NONE to the The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (Simpson-Bowles)

*locked them OUT of the discussion and Negotiations for the new TPP (NAFTA on Steroids)

*directs party funds and support to conservative Big Business Centrist "Democrats" in Democratic Primaries (as shown above)

*really doesn't even take their calls.
The Progressive Caucus' influence has been marginalized so deeply that they are reduced to Writing Letters to the White House.

What makes you believe that he even wants More Progressives in Congress?
He hasn't done ANYTHING to indicate that he does.




You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]

[nomorenomore08]

36. You should make this an OP. No hyperbole, no irrational hatred, just facts.

I know some people are very emotionally attached to this Presidency, and I sympathize with them, but what good does a warm fuzzy feeling do when our country is circling the drain?

[chervilant]

38. Same question was asked during

St.Raygun's reign of terror. People who blindly support their candidates because of the letters behind their names are getting tiresome. Just cannot understand sycophantic, slavish devotion to someone or something!

[kentuck]

39. Amen to that.

We, as a people, are so easily divided.

[uponit7771]

43. BULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL SHIT!! You point out exceptions and not the rule but who gives

...a fuck about facts

Obama admin has NOT blocked enough progressives (even entertaining this tripe) for people to stay home and bitch on the internet about head leaders

[bvar22]

45. The people reading this thread can believe the testimony delivered by someone...

...who was worked for MONTHS On-the-Ground in Arkansas to give President Obama "***A More Progressive Congress***"
and had to personally watch his smiling Oval Office Endorsement for the last minute rescue of DINO Democratic Obstructionist Blanche Lincoln (who had NO CHANCE to win against the Republican) played 24/7 on Arkansas TV,

AND the 100% corroboration from Salon.Com and Ed Schultz,
and multiple OTHER sources if they care to Google,
(they will also discover documentation of Last Minute Democratic Voter Suppression in Halter strongholds in Little Rock)

OR

they are free to believe your personal belligerent denial.

No Skin off of MY nose,
because I WAS THERE,
and I KNOW what happened.
One thing about us Union Thugs,
we NEVER forget a Sucker Punch,
and that is EXACTLY what happened to us in the Democratic Primary.

[uponit7771]

49. ..again, the exception but I'm supposed to listen to this kind of shit and consider how evil Obama

...is hunh?

[bvar22]

50. You don't get it.

I don't care WHAT you think you are supposed to do.

I am offering a piece of the the TRUTH,
offering my personal testimony as someone who was THERE and directly involved,
and offering documentation from multiple independent sources that ALL agree.
"Yep. That IS what happened in Arkansas."

Everybody who reads this thread, is perfectly free to believe me,

OR
your empty and unsupported denials,

OR
to just walk away with this information and verify for themselves if what I said above is true.
Hopefully, this will lead them to examine the pattern of choices made by the White House and Democratic Party Leadership in Democratic Primary Elections.

If I sound bitter & cynical about what happened in the Arkansas Democratic Primary, it is because I am.

Everybody who was On-the-Ground working to
"****GET A PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS!!!******" has earned that right.
We got a Look-Behind-the-Curtain at the Kabuki Theater,
and it ain't pretty.




[font color=firebrick][center]The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR. [/font][/center]

[nomorenomore08]

35. I agree wholeheartedly with getting out the vote in 2014. And I'll still vote Dem because there's no

better alternative right now. But damn it, Obama could have gotten a lot more good stuff done if he'd really wanted to. He's been way, way, way too nice to Boehner and Co. Unfortunately I think he's destined to be another Clinton - brilliant man, mediocre President.

[Chaco Dundee]

40. one little problem!

It is not that hard to find that perfect lady or guy who are able to lead with responsibillity decency,morals and ethics,the problem is that he or she can not get enough people behind them to back them up.ought to tell you something about your fellow human beings.

[kentuck]

41. Right!

It's called leadership.

[Chaco Dundee]

47. I am with you

The leadership is not so hard to come by.there are capable and qualified people who are willing to do what's right.it is the indoctrination by the opposition of the masses of good people who would want a better live if it was available without the allmighty Dollar.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

44. One tactic is to con the other side into supporting your policies....

The Democrats have been the rube for decades.

[Chaco Dundee]

48. nobody can go it alone.

It takes a few people or rather a lot to galvanize and back up the right person to get the job done,so why do we complain rather than take action and get organized and get the job done?